Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

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astaib
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Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

Post by astaib »

Hello,

When I bought my 2002 DA40 last year, I noticed that the glareshield was burned on the top side, at the exact position where the light below for the dashboard is connected. But the area was clean and no sign of short circuit.
In order to hide it, I wrapped my glareshield with carbon covering film from automotive (AVERY Dennison).
The result is perfect and the scarf was hidden.

But last week after a 2 hours flight, I landed in a very hot and sunny area. I opened the canopy and start to unload my luggage. My son told me that the glareshield was smoking! He was right, and the sun was reflecting in the plexi canopy and the beam was at the exact position where it has the scarf already!!!
In this case, only the film burned, and I will have to redo it. The battery was off, so it cannot be an electric problem. But it is very strange that the beam went at this exact position.

Did you ever had this kind of issue?

Thank you.
Arnaud
DA40 Star 180 / 40.026 / 2001
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Rich
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Re: Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

Post by Rich »

I haven't seen it in the Diamond but I have seen this happen in motorcycles. What happens there is a small part of the edge of the windscreen acts like a magnifying lens and concentrates the sunlight onto a particular part of the plastic fairing below, melting it. Perhaps in your case there is a small scratch or other flaw acting in this manner.
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OriensFlight
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Re: Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

Post by OriensFlight »

Check out the DA42 (same canopy) thread:
https://diamondaviators.net/forum/viewt ... 43&p=56924

The parabolic reflector effect happened to my aircraft last week. It was around high-noon and the aircraft was facing West. We thought it was an electrical fire above the circuit breakers, fortunately we didn't use the fire extinguisher (but it was in hand). Had the mechanic take a look at all the components under the glare shield, and there was no signs of damage, nor lingering electrical smells. The thread above is very enlightening.
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Karl
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Re: Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

Post by Karl »

We have been operating Diamonds in Malaysia where it is very sunny most of the time for 14 years and have never had this issue. I am guessing it is a defect in the canopy such as a scratch or repaired area focussing the light.
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Re: Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

Post by OriensFlight »

Karl, despite my canopy being 12yo it is in remarkably good shape. If you read the DA42 thread, you'll see the logic in how this could happen under normal circumstances. In my case the canopy was up for about 3 minutes before the glare shield started smoking. I believe it has to be at just the correct angle. Although it was a very warm and dry day for California, I don't think you need an extreme 100°F condition. However, considering that this forum seems to now document only three of these incidents over many years of DA40/42 flying I think it is a remarkably rare thing to occur.

The picture I'm including was several hours after the incident, but you can clearly see a raised canopy will focus light to a point. I'm sorry I don't have a picture showing the light hitting the glare shield.
CA27096A-E036-49FF-9004-4883B3307628.jpeg
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astaib
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Re: Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

Post by astaib »

Thanks all for your experience and link.
I was right to think that it can be due to the sun and not a short circuit then.
Here is a picture to illustrate :
16BF0494-A2E4-4F7E-B33F-99F2D1629030.jpeg
Arnaud
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Re: Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

Post by Dominyc123 »

Hi,

This just happened to me multiple time apparently. My initial explanation was that somehow maintenance did something by accident, until I witnessed the smoke coming from glare shield while the canopy was open. It wasn't that hot and the sun was behind the aircraft. The glare shield has a custom leather wrap, so initially I blamed the material manufacturer for not having high enough temperature rating, but now i found this thread... :cry:

Here are some pictures...
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Steve
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Re: Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

Post by Steve »

Yikes! My airplane lives in south TX, with a very high exposure to solar radiation. I (fortunately) have never seen anything like this. I would expect that any wrapping material (film, upholstery) might be more subject to burning than the standard fiberglas/paint of the stock glareshield my airplane is equipped with.
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Don
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Re: Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

Post by Don »

I had this also happen on one of my previous Diamond Stars with the canopy closed. When I talked to the factory to order a new one, they stated If the sun angle is just right, and comes through the curved part of canopy at a certain angle, it can act like a magnified glass. Remember burning ants when you were a kid? Same thing.
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astaib
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Re: Glareshield burned because of sun - very strange

Post by astaib »

Steve wrote: Thu Aug 20, 2020 5:53 pm Yikes! My airplane lives in south TX, with a very high exposure to solar radiation. I (fortunately) have never seen anything like this. I would expect that any wrapping material (film, upholstery) might be more subject to burning than the standard fiberglas/paint of the stock glareshield my airplane is equipped with.
Before wrapping this part with film, the original fiberglass was already burnt (that’s why I wrapped it not cover the burned area).
At that time I ignored why it was burnt.

Arnaud.
Arnaud
DA40 Star 180 / 40.026 / 2001
Wingtip, landing and taxing LED (Whelen)
Skitube
GNS430 NON-WAAS
Steam gauges
Non certified ADS-b
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